Gandhi Statue in Secunderabad a toilet zone

India is celebrating its 68th year of Independence and the newly formed state of Telangana celebrates its first Independence day on August 15 2014. Secunderabad, which forms a part of Telangana has three main roads named after three great leaders namely, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel and Sarojini Naidu. Of the three roads we have a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at M.G. Road named after the great leader who was the architect of our freedom struggle. He is also called the father of our nation. But when we see the surroundings of the statue, we feel that there is no freedom for the architect of our freedom struggle.

In short, the upkeep and maintenance of the statue premises is in a pathetic state. In fact he is surrounded by all departments- the electricity, the telephones and what not. Added to this the island has lost its shape and in some places the compound wall is giving up and we find sights of people drying clothes on the barbed fence and unused tires hanging on the fence. There are also a whole lot of scooters and cars parked all around the statue’s island during busy peak hours. On Gandhi Jayanthi and his death anniversary, we find some cosmetic touch given to this statue and its surroundings. Infact, Gandhiji advocated and gave more importance to cleanliness. So as a fitting tribute to this great leader this street should be made litter-free immediately on par with any other streets where the litter-free program is in place. The new government has been taking up works of the Ambedkar statue at Kharkhana and Jagjivan Ram statue at Tadbund.

It's time the authorities make the statue of Gandhiji free from the installations of the government departments and develop the same in line with the Indira Gandhi statue at Necklace Road or the Iron man of India, Sardar Vallabhai Patel statue at Police control room.

I hope that the government realizes that merely making an idol of a great human being and felicitating him on special occasions is not enough. If respect has to be shown to this true great leader, make the surroundings of this island cleaner, make M.G. Road stand for something neat and litter-free. There are transformers covering the entire place such that one’s view of the statue is blocked. Unused electrical installations which are now being used like a public toilet surround the father of our nation. It is a disgrace to attach his name with India’s independence and then treat him in such a disrespectful manner. The George Washington statue at Washington Circle or the Vladimir Lenin statue at Irkutsk is equally important to their respective country people as Gandhiji is to us. But not only do they install statues of their leaders but also ensure proper maintenance and repair of the area it covers. So this independence day, let’s start with making amends. Let us give Gandhiji his place of honor and respect.

Let’s start here.